Glynis Peters - The Orphan Thief

The door swung open and Helen came back into the room and handed Ruby a bulging pillowcase.

‘Inside you will find four pairs of knickers, all new. A cardigan, vest, blouse and skirt – not new but in good condition. You are a little smaller than my daughter and I’d put these in our back room for distributing to those in need. I think they’ll do you a turn. And here’s a small loaf to tide you over. All bakeries are closed, except for the one on Maudsley Road. My mother can share ours,’ Helen said, and waggled the bag in Ruby’s direction.

‘I’m grateful – thank you.’ Ruby took the gift from Helen and clutched it close.

‘It’s the least I can do. I’ll sort out the papers for you and, as I said, will drop by when I have news. Now, get yourself home before the weather sets in and you get soaked. One thing before you go. Do you know if your parents had a bank account? Most business people do, but some preferred to mattress stuff and not trust banks.’

‘I don’t know. I counted the end of day money and handed it to Dad; after that he dealt with it. I can’t recall going to the bank for him. He was a bit funny about money, so the chances are he hid it in the travel trunk we were never allowed to touch,’ Ruby said.

‘Hmm, shame. The bank might have held money in his name. Mind you, we’d have to prove you are his daughter and, without papers – Wait, were you christened?’

‘Yes. We all were. Why?’

‘It will be recorded in the parish records. Unless, of course, they were destroyed. The same with civil documents, recording your family. There will be copies – birth certificates and such. Leave it with me. One step at a time; we’ll sort things out, don’t you fret. Now, as I say, head home and stay warm. And you’re sure you’ve enough to eat?’ Helen said.

‘Yes, and thanks. Thanks for everything,’ Ruby said and hesitated. She wanted to ask more about the bank, but changed her mind. It would keep for another day; Helen had done more than enough for her, and other people were outside, waiting their turn for the next available slot.

As she exited the building Ruby noticed the clouds scudding overhead and threatening to drop more than a few flakes of snow. In her arms she clutched the new clothing bundle from Helen, and hurried home to try them on, excited at the prospect of having fresh things to wear.

A rush of memories caught up with her and she let them flow as she walked home. She recalled the pretty dress her mother had made for her sixteenth birthday in June. Green paisley with a yellow sash. She’d worn it on for the church summer party after the fete, along with white gloves, shoes and a yellow ribbon for her hair. She’d watched Lenny Barnes blink and stare at her as she’d walked towards the church doorway. Lenny often declared her as his girl, and she would retort with a dismissive put down which always ended with a wink from the tallest boy in school. When they left, he made it his duty to escort her to and from the church dances, and Ruby always ensured another female friend tagged along. Ruby had never had many close friends as she preferred her own company and attending the dances was under sufferance, just to please her mother. Her father had no say over Lenny’s protection of his daughter, but always gave a speech prior to them leaving the house. Lenny had left Coventry with his parents when war broke out and Ruby missed his humour. She also missed how he’d made her feel special in her new outfit – a precious gift she’d never see again.

Before melancholy could set in, Ruby walked faster and thought of what room she needed to investigate next. She only just made it inside before a torrent of hail dropped to the ground. Winter was edging its way closer, adding to Ruby’s concerns. The coal store looked full enough, but the fear of exploding gas pipes prevented her from lighting a fire indoors. On the sideboard in Stephen’s office she’d stood Fred’s photograph and she reminded herself to find him and return it the following day. The weather didn’t invite a second visit outdoors. She had a lunch of thinly sliced bread from the small loaf with a smearing of some fruit jam she’d found in a cupboard. Stephen had certainly received a variety of gifts from his customers; she’d found pickles in old jam jars, and more tinned food than was allowed on a ration card.

After she’d eaten, Ruby made a start on the paperwork in the office. She created piles of official-looking papers to take to Helen and ask her to find the appropriate people to deal with them. Whilst she was sorting them out, she came across a file with her family name written in one corner. She lifted the many papers inside and laid them onto the table. Most were scribbled notes from her father and notifications from Stephen, all relating to the business. She also found papers from the savings bank on Hertford Street. They suggested her father held an account there and Stephen paid in money on a regular basis. It made sense and she laid them onto the pile to take to Helen the next day to see if she could find a way of accessing the account on Ruby’s behalf. If her father did have money for the grocery business, she might be a beneficiary. The thought excited her and she made plans in her head as to where she would set up business in the city. Daydream after daydream kept her company as she packed away the papers. Once finished, she moved upstairs.

Ruby stepped inside Stephen’s bedroom. She’d been inside before to find temporary underwear, but this time the room carried an air of sadness about it as she was to clear away his belongings. His clothing was of fair quality, with one suit barely worn. Ruby guessed it was his Sunday best. A drawer of pullovers and knitted waistcoats proved useful, as four of the seven fitted Ruby and she kept a dark navy one as another warming layer. Socks were also placed in a pile for her own use, as were a pair of brown corduroy trousers and a set of braces. Working on the bombsites, Ruby often scraped her knees and the trousers would be ideal for workwear.

With the clothes sorted into piles, she wrapped and tied them with old newspapers, took them downstairs and placed them to one side for the outside storage room. On the top of the pile she placed Stephen’s brown fedora hat, but almost immediately changed her mind and put it back on its hook. It seemed disrespectful and Ruby hoped the landlord would make good use of it, as it looked relatively new.

A loud bang and crash startled her as she carried the last of the packages down the stairs and she lost her footing on the bottom step, causing her to stumble to the floor. The noise came from outside and she listened in the darkness of the hallway to deep muffled voices outside the door.

Looters!

Ruby remained on the floor, afraid any movement would alert whoever was outside to the fact there was someone inside. After a minute or two, it dawned on her to make herself known, and then word would be out that Garden Cottage was not empty. She had no candles and the light faded fast, but she recalled seeing an oil lamp in the corner of the second downstairs room, just off the hallway. She crawled into the room, feeling her way around until she touched the lamp. She went back to the kitchen, found matches and lit the lamp, keeping it low. Persuading her shoulder-length curls to settle under Stephen’s hat, she slowly opened the side door and lifted the lamp.

‘Who’sa’?’ she called out in a gruff voice, the deepest she could muster, and made the two words roll into one. It hurt the back of her throat, but she held back the tickling cough which threatened. She banged a saucepan lid against the edge of the lamp, unsure why, but hoped the noise would add to the threat she tried to offer the intruders.

She saw two shadows at the bottom of the pathway leading to the garden; both loomed large and masculine. Ruby, not wanting to get into a physical confrontation, went back inside, leaving the lamp on low at the kitchen window and the hat on her head. If the men were looking for trouble, it was best they thought a man was inside. The thud of their feet running past the door told her the ploy had worked and she let out a breath of relief.